The misanthropic sludge metal outfit Eyehategod was formed in New Orleans in 1988, and became an important part of a Southern sludgecore scene that included bands like Crowbar and Down, all of whom were heavily influenced by Black Sabbath, Black Flag, and the Melvins. Eyehategod was the brainchild of guitarist Jimmy Bower and drummer Joe LaCaze; the two recruited vocalist Michael D. Williams, lead guitarist Brian Patton, and bassist Steve Dale, and debuted in 1992 with the album In the Name of Suffering.

The Cro-Mags are an American hardcore punk turned crossover thrash band from New York City. The band, which had a strong cult following, has released five studio albums, their first two considered the most influential. According to AllMusic, “before the Cro-Mags, the idea of combining heavy metal and hardcore together was unheard of. But with the release of their classic debut, The Age of Quarrel, hardcore-metal was born, and in its wake came a legion of similarly styled offspring (Biohazard, Vision of Disorder, etc.).”

Miami’s Shroud Eater gained praise from preeminent tastemakers such as Noisey, Cvlt Nation, HellRide Music, The Obelisk and others, Shroud Eater have proven they bring the heavy with the best of them; Heavy Planet dubbed them “Stoner-Sludge Titans”, while Ghost Cult Magazine called them the “Future of sludge metal”. The band has performed at the much lauded Psycho Las Vegas, as well as Destroyer Fest, Wvrm Fest, 305 Fest, Fresh Fest, and the Tennessean Sludge Festival.